The Argentinean is the big favourite to take over from José Ángel Ziganda this summer. Asier Garitano and Thomas Tuchel have fallen behind.

Eduardo Berizzo continues to weigh up his options while he plots his return to coaching after having overcome his health problems. He's the leading candidate to take the reins at Athletic Club where José María Amorrortu feels he is the ideal man to take over the reins from José Ángel Ziganda. The two other candidates for the job are more or less ruled out: Thomas Tuchel, who is being chased by PSG and Arsenal, looks impossible while Asier Garitano is expected to stay on for another season with Leganés.

Next year's elections in Bilbao

Athletic will be holding presidential elections in February 2019 which means that they are only able to offer a contract for one-season to any incoming coach. Berizzo was Amorrortu's preferred choice for the post last summer, but in the end Josu Urrutia plumped for Ziganda, who is under contract until June 2019.